Using Numbers in UX

Imagine the scenario: you are sealing a number of envelopes one at a time. You don’t know how many total are expected. Better yet, a digital example: your email inbox has no total number attached to it. You are going through your inbox but it is seemingly infinite…

Knowing the quantity you are dealing with vs. not knowing makes quite a difference. The feeling of drowning in uncertainty and monotony can make a tolerable task miserable.

When it comes to User Experience, its important to keep your users properly oriented as to where they are within the given process or experience. This seems to come up the most when there is movement through a multiple step process or a seemingly infinite amount of content (a similar post about scrolling). Without a reference point/guidance, users may get anxious, frustrated, and abandon ship.

Two simple examples :

This quiz has 3 questions in it. There is a simple circle underneath each question showing the student where they are in the process.

Notifications buildups happen sometimes. With a simple tracker in the bottom center, we show the teacher that its not endless. There are only two (total) notifications to get through.

Use numbers. They are simple and self explanatory. Show the user where they are and make them feel oriented. They aren’t lost, we are with them every step of the way :) .

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